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Patient Instructions - Prostascint Scan

A prostascint scan uses a radioactive material that is specific to prostate cells. Protascint may be used as a test in newly diagnosed patients with prostate cancer, after prostate surgery or prostatectomy patients with rising PSA.

Before your Procedure

Patients should not have any other recent nuclear medicine procedures.

Patients will be asked to take a mild laxative (Milk of Magnesia) and to drink plenty of fluids from beginning until the end of the study (4 days).

A cleansing enema (Fleets enema done at home) is also required immediately prior to imaging.

All of these instructions will be given at the time of prostascint administration.

During your Procedure

On the 1st day (a Thursday or a Friday):

The prostascint injection is administered.

A technologist will start an IV in a vein in the arm through which the radioactive substance is given over a 10-15 minute period.

The prostascint will be allowed to circulate throughout your body for 4 days.

On the 4th day, scans will be performed.

The scan requires that you lay flat on your back for approximately 30 minutes while the camera scans your body.

After the scan you will be offered a short break.

For the SPECT scan, you will be asked to lay flat on your back with your arms above your head for approximately 40 minutes of scanning.

In order to get good pictures it is important that you lay very still during the scan.

There are no side effects from the imaging procedure.

After your Procedure

Your doctor will be contacted with the results of your test and will discuss the results with you.

Providing safe, quality patient care is our highest priority. To help ensure quality and safety, we ask that you do not bring young children with you to your appointments, as children are not allowed to accompany you during Imaging procedures. Staff is unable to monitor your child in your absence.